Burial-case protector.



No. 699,945.; Patented May l3, I902. H. n. CLARK.

BURIAL CASE PROTECTOR.

' (Application filed Oct. 10, 19 01.)

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(Application filed 0c t. 10, 1901.

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

HUGH D. CLARK, OF COLUMBUS, OHIO.

BURlAL-CASE PROTECTOR.

$PECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 699,945, dated May 13, 1902.

Applicationfiled October 10,1901. Serial No. 78,150. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, HUGH D. CLARK, acitizen of the United States, residing at Columbus, in the county of Franklin and State of Ohio, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Burial-Case Protectors, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to the improvement of burial-case protectors, and has particular 10. relation to the improvement of the construction shown in my former patent, No. (378,224, issued under date of July 9, 1901.

The objects of my present invention are to provide the casket-containing case or rough box with an external case or jacket as a protection against water, to provide improved mechanism for locking the parts of my protector together and within the grave, and to produce other improvements the details of construction of which will "be more fully pointed out hereinafter. These objects I accomplish in the manner illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 is a plan View of the external jacket and upper locking-bars. Fig. 2 is a longitudinal section on line a; m of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a transverse section on line y y of Fig. 1. Fig. 4: is a detail'view in perspective of one of the parts of my improved lock. Fig. 5 is a similar view of an improved locking-key. Fig. 6 is a detail View in perspective of one of the lock-standards. Fig. 7 is a side elevation of said standard with the side or face plate removed. Fig. 8 is a plan view of the bottom anchor-bars. Fig. 9 is a side elevation of the longitudinal anchor-bar; and Fig. 10 is a central vertical section of the upper portion of one of the lock-standards, showing a portion of one of the upper lock-bars connected therewith.

Similar numerals refer to similar part throughout the several views.

In carrying out my invention I employ a bottom or anchor frame consisting of a bar formed of sections 1 and 2, the inner ends of which are hinged, as indicated at 3. Each of these bar-sections is provided on its upper side with a transverse recess 4E, into which is adapted to be inserted the central hinged portion of a transverse or cross bar formed of sections 5 and 6. As indicated in the drawings, the ends of the bar-sections 1 and 2 and 5 and 6 are pointed and preferably curved upward. The longer bar, formed of the sections 1 and 2, is adapted to lie longitudinally and centrally on the floor of a grave, such as is partially indicated at 7 in Fig. 2. Inasmuch, however, as its central bar is of greater'length than the length-of the grave, it is necessary in first inserting said bar within the grave to bend its central portion upward at its hingepoint. By depressing the bar-sections until the same are in a horizontal position on the floor of a grave it is obvious that the pointed ends of said sections 1 and 2 will be forced a desirable distance in the end walls of the grave. This being accomplished, the transverse sectional bars 5 6 are likewise first bent upward and inserted within the grave and then straightened, causing their pointed ends to enter the side walls of the grave.

As indicated at S, the bar-sections maybe more firmly anchored to the ground by vertical spikes driven therethrough into the earth. Upon the bars 1 2 5 6 is supported the co'ffin-inclosing case or rough box 9, and in carrying out my present improvement this box 9 has its sides, top, and ends inclosed by a comparatively close-fitting jacket or hood 10, the latter having its lower open side also bearing upon the bars 5 6 1 2 in the bottom of the grave.

The outer end portions of the bar-sections 1 2 5 6 are, asindicated in the drawings, made to pass through slotted openings 11 in the lower ends of vertical locking-standards 12, each otthese locking-standards consisting of a vertically-channeled body, the open side of said channel being closed by a suitably-secured vertical face-plate 13, said plate being removed from the standards. (Shown in Fig. 7.) As indicated in the drawings, the upper end of each of the standards 12 is bifurcated or recessed to form two vertical and parallel tongue-like extensions 14. On the inner side of the upper portion of the standard-body 12 1 form transverse recesses 15 at suitable intervals one from the other, two of these recesses being shown in the drawings. In the lower and wider portion of the standard-body 12 I secure one end of an inwardly-projecting spring-strip 16, and 'onthe opposite wall of the standard from that having said springstrip I provide a projecting'tooth- 17. The standards 12, formed as above described, rise at opposite points of the sides and ends of the jacket 10. On the upper side of the jacket 10 I provide, as in my said former patout, a top clamping-frame comprising a longitudinally-arranged bar 18 and cross-bars 19. The ends of the bars 18 and 10 are formed with vertical openings, through which the upper end portions of the standard-bodies 12 pass. This connection of the top bars and standards being formed, an oblong block 20, which is provided near one end with an opening 21, (see Fig. 10,) is slipped over the head of each of the standards and caused to bear upon the corresponding top frame-bar 18 or 19, said block 20 being provided on its under side with a downward projection or boss 22, which is also adapted to enter the opening in said bar 18 or 19. The block 20 is also provided in its upper side with a transverse recess or keyway 20, which intersects the vertical opening of said block. This being accomplished, a mortised top block 23 is made to receive the upwardly-extending portions 111: of each of the standards 12, this top block bearing upon the block 20 and having, as indicated more clearly in Fig. 4 of the drawings, its ends on their inner sides formed with oppositely-located offsets or recesses 24:. A key-block, which is indicated in Fig. 5 of the drawings at 25 and which is provided with a central vertical opening 26, is now inserted horizontally through the upper side recesses 20" of the block 20 and through the standard-recess 15, which registers therewith, thus keying or looking the block 20 against upward movement.

27 represents a lock-bar the lower end portion of which is provided on one side with inclined teeth, as indicated at 28 in Fig. 7 of the drawings. This lock-bar has its upper end provided with a transverse or T head 27. In order to more effectively lock the frame-piece 18 or 19 in connection with the standard and at the same time lock the top block or washer 23 against being raised off its seat on the block 20, the bar 27 is inserted vertically into the standard 12 until its head 27 is embedded in the block 23 and its recesses 24. In the insertion of the lockingbar 27 within the standard 12 it will be seen that the teeth 28 of said bar will be successively engaged by the tooth 17 of the standard, this engagement being insured through the pressure of the spring 16 against the opposite side of the bar. It will be observed that owing to the engagement of the teeth 28 and tooth 17 the locking-bar is prevented, as in my said former patented construction, from being withdrawn from the standard 12. Although that portion of the block 20 which is provided with the downwardly-projecting boss 22 is shown as extending inward from the standard, it is obvious that in cases where the top frame-bars 18 or 19 were of unusual length said block 20 might be reversed, so that its longer projecting end portion extended outwardly and its boss 22 engaged the outer end portion of the opening 21.

By the employment of the hood or jacket 10 on the outer side of the eoflin-containing case 5) and by the formation of said hood of metal it will be seen that additional protection is afforded the cofiin-containing case against decaying, caused by water or dampness within the grave. It will also be seen that by the mechanism described the hood is locked firmly in connection with the bottom bars 1 2 5 6 and that the latter are anchored in the walls of the grave, thus providing a protection not only against the opening of the coffin-containing case from the upper side, but against the withdrawal of the same from the grave.

Having now fully described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. In a burial-case protector, the combination with a bottom frame comprising a central bar formed of hinged sections and similarly-formed cross-bars, said bars being when horizontal of greater length than the length and width of the gravein which they are intended for use, of a coffin-containing case mounted on said bottom frame, an external jacket inclosing the sides, ends and top of said coffin-containing case, vertical standards rising from said bottom frame on the upper sides of said jacket, bars extending across the upper side of the jacket and locked in connection with said standards, substantially as specified.

2. In a burial-case protector, the combination with a bottom frame comprising united bars adapted to have their ends projecting into the walls of a grave, and a coffin-containing ease supported on said bottom frame-bars, of hollow locking-standards rising from said bottom frame-bars, each of said standards having on its inner side a projecting tooth 17, a spring 16 opposite the same and the upper portions of said standards having transverse keyways or openings 15, longitudinal and transverse frame-bars 18 and 19 extending over the burial-case and having openings in their outer end portions adapted to receive the upper portions of said standards 12, a block 20 detachably mounted on each of said standards above the corresponding top framebar and having a projecting boss engaging the opening of said frame-bar, a block 23 [itting over the upper end of each ofsaid standards and bearing upon the block 20, a keyblock 25 having a central opening therein and adapted to be inserted in one of the openings 15 and a locking-bar adapted to be inserted vertically through said blocks 23 and 20 and into the standard 12, said bar having formed in its lower portionteeth 28 having an enlarged head as described adapted to enter the opening of the block 28, substantially as specified.

IIUGII D. CLARK.

In presence of C. G. SHEPHERD, A. L. PHELPS. 

